Monday, September 1, 2025

AhPek Facebook Foodie Round-up: 2025-08 August

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AhPek Facebook Foodie Round-up:
August 2025
We kicked off the month with a journey north for good eats in George Town, Penang and Hat Yai, Thailand.
Some of the memorable eats include: up in Penang, a champion's Char Koay Teow, and Michelin bib tomyum noodles, and apom. Over in Hat Yai were good Teow Chew dumplings, and a seafood fest. Stay tuned at AhPek Biker's FB posts for daily updates!

(Click on photos to link & comment at the original FB post, and also to get geo-tags of the eats places)
(NOTE: If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first; to see ride blogs, click here)
Char Koay Teow at Perak Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow, George Town, Penang – 1st August


Michelin Star Ghee Lian Green Tomyam Noodles (義蓮鱼头米粉) at Weld Quay Food Court, George Town. Penang – 1st August


My late mum, Mamatan, makes the best curry pup, and I am always on the lookout for ones that can match hers – 1st August

This one from Indian style, son take away from hawker at Batu Lancang Food Court in Penang. It's a good throwback to school days when we eat this (with pickled onions) at the stadium while watching sports events.

Asian-Fusion Taster Lunch & Dimsum at Four Hands, George Town, Penang – 2nd August

Penang Hokkien Prawn Mee, Lor Bak Tea-time Treats at Gen-Ki Canteen (元氣食堂), Green Lane , Penang – 2nd August

Hot-pot Dinner at Haidilao in Gurney Paragon, George Town, Penang – 2nd August

Crispy Indian Apom at Swee Kong Kopitiam, Pulau Tikus, George Town, Penang – 3rd August

Pat-poh Guleng Peng at Swee Kong Kopitiam, Pulau Tikus, George Town, Penang – 3rd August

Champion Penang Char Koay Teow at Swee Kong Kopitiam, Pulau Tikus, George Town, Penang – 3rd August

Thai Teow Chew Food at Pakmornalo Naisuan (云海竹筒海鮮, ก๋วยเตี๋ยวปากหม้อน่าล่อในสวน หาดใหญ่) at Hat Yai, Thailand – 3rd August

Thai Dinner at Krua Pa-Yad (ครัวปะ-หยัด), Hat Yai, Thailand – 3rd August

Shopping at Lee Garden Market Street, Hat Yai, Thailand – 3rd August

Food Hunting at Lee Garden Market Street, Hat Yai, Thailand – 3rd August

Thai durians at Lee Garden Market Street, Hat Yai, Thailand – 3rd August

Thai Medicated Oil & Thai Rice Milk Soap from pharmacies at Hat Yai, Thailand – 3rd August

Thai Wantan Noodles at Hong Tong Noodles (บะหมี่หงส์ทอง), Hat Yai, Thailand – 4th August

Shopping at Thailand 7-11 (Pasawang Outlet), Hat Yai, Thailand – 4th August

Thai Seafood Dinner at Sea Space, Hat Yai, Thailand – 4th August

Thai Dumplings from Roadside Vendors at Golden Crown Grand Hotel, Hat Yai, Thailand – 5th August

Cashew Nuts from Qin Shop, Hat Yai, Thailand – 5th August

Street Stalls at Kim Yong Market (ตลาดกิมหยง หาดใหญ่), Hat Yai, Thailand – 5th August

Tomyum Wantan Noodles at Betong Wantan Noodles, Hat Yai, Thailand – 5th August

Food Shopping at 7-11 next to Aloha Hatyai Hotel, Hat Yai, Thailand – 5th August

Grocery Shopping at Lotus 1 Hypermarket, Hat Yai, Thailand – 5th August

Roti Canai & Roti Telur-Bawang Breakfast At Kiya’s Restaurant, TTDI, KL – 7th August

Buttery Toast Treats with Icecream from Toastlah Food Truck at TTDI, KL – 8th August

Asian Fusion Dinner with Friends at The Gathering Beast, Amansuria, PJ – 9th August

Take-away Penang Curry Mee from Kopitiam 7 (七號咖啡店), SS2 – 10th August

Family Italian Dinner at Yellow Brick Road, Bukit Damansara, KL – 10th August

Korean Birthday Dinner at Ticket to Korea, Tropicana Avenue, PJ - 14th August

Korean Bingsu Desserts at Binq Dessert, Damansara Utama, PJ – 14th August

Chinese dinner with Wife's Schoolmates at Xigong Seafood Restaurant (西公海鮮飯店), Kepong, KL – 15th August

Vade and Putu Mayam at Kanna Curry House, Bandar Menjalara, KL – 16th August

Wholesale Biscuit Factory at Guang Xiang Food Trading, Kepong Baru, KL – 16th August

Wholesale Foo Choke (Soy Bean Curd Skin)  at Xian Mei Food Industry (鲜美食品有限公司)Kepong Baru, KL – 16th August

Curry Chee Cheong Fun, Buttery Toast & Hailam Tea at Restoran Kopitiam Good View, Kepong Baru, KL -16th August

Kepong Baru Mural Lane next to Health Lane, Kepong Baru, KL -16th August

Fish Ball Noodles at You Fishball Noodles, Kepong Baru, KL -16th August

Family Thai Lunch at Lao-Thai 5 to 9 Restaurant (老泰私房小厨 5 to 9), Segambut, KL - 17th August

Take-away Ansoon Chee Cheong Fun from Teluk Intan, Perak – 22nd August

Char Koay Teow at Air Panas Food Court, KL – 31st August

Take-away Kolok Mee from Kuching, Sarawak – 31st August

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Saturday, August 30, 2025

Penang-Hat Yai 2025 Days 4 & 5: Around Hat Yai & Home

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Penang-Hat Yai 2025 Days 4 & 5: Around Hat Yai & Home
Penang-Hat Yai 2025 Days 4th August (Monday)
Small Group (Road Trip) Tour of George Town, Penang, Malaysia, and Hat Yai, Thailand.
Day 4 - Around Hat Yai (Thailand):
Golden Crown Grand Hotel>drive>Hong Thong Noodles>Stainless Steel Temple>Golden Crown Grand Hotel>walk>Kim Yong Market (closed)>Wat Chue Chang>tuk-tuk>Seaspace Hatyai>Grab>Golden Crown Grand Hotel.

This is page 3 of a 3-page blog. Click Here To Go To The Title Page.
< D3: Penang-Hat Yai            |            Go to Other Days              |            D1&2: KL-Penang >

Route recommendations, here are some tips on travelling to and around Morocco:
1. Driving & Traffic Directions!
    Driving in Malaysia and Driving in Thailand is right-hand drive, and driving is on the left side of the road. Do look to the correct side when crossing roads. A valid international driving licence is required for both countries. Those with a driving licence from ASEAN countries can drive in both countries, subject to conditions. Short-term car insurance is also required.
    We drove around in Thailand, but where we expected difficulty in parking, we either took a tuk-tuk or hailed a Grab Car, comparing prices first.
    Malaysians driving their car into Thailand will require a temporary import permit. This form can be obtained at several highway-side shops around Changlun. At the Thailand Immigration/Customs side, passengers will have to alight and go through the pedestrian lanes, while the driver drives through a different lane to have the form processed. There is no need for the passengers to alight when leaving Thailand. A copy of the approved form will be returned to the driver. This COPY HAS TO BE RETURNED to the Thai Immigration/Customs; otherwise, one is considered to have imported a car to Thailand, and on the subsequent entry into Thailand, one may have to pay a hefty fine!
    We did the car import permit and comprehensive Thai car insurance at Mini Travel 1982, which has a large car park, a duty-free shop and a food court. They also helped fill in tourist entry forms and sell Thai DTAC Happy Tourist phone SIM cards. This also includes tow truck services, which can be contacted via WhatsApp call/message to +6012-4971068.
    Speed limits in Malaysia:
    Expressways: 110 km/h, 80 or 90 km/h at dangerous mountainous stretches, crosswind areas and urban areas with high traffic capacity.
    Federal roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
    State roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
    Do adhere to these limits, as speed detection cameras are along the expressways. Install the Waze App, and run it while driving, as it highlights if one drives above the speed limit, and will warn of impending speed traps.
    Speed limits in Thailand:
    Expressways: 110 km/h, 80 or 90 km/h at dangerous mountainous stretches, crosswind areas and urban areas with high traffic capacity.
    Federal roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
    State roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
 60 km/h within urban areas, 100 km/h outside urban areas, including expressways, and 120 km/h on highways. Do adhere to these limits, as often police are monitoring with radars; our driver-guide was careful about this.

2. Immigration & Customs Requirements
    Those from ASEAN countries (except Myanmar) can enter member countries without a visa for periods between 14 to 30 days. Click here for Malaysian visa requirements for other countries. Click here for Thai visa requirements for other countries.

3. Getting to and around Malaysia.
    Both Malaysia and Thailand are well served by many international airlines. Click here for airlines serving Malaysia, and click here for airlines serving Thailand.
    Highway and local roads in Malaysia are excellent, while those in Thailand are good. Many expressways in Malaysia are tolled, while Thailand only have tolled roads in some cities.
    Petrol is cheaper in Malaysia, with RON95 at RM2.05 (USD0.48) per litre. While in Thailand RON95 costs more than double at THB32.55 (USD1.01) per litre. So, do fill up just before crossing the border into Thailand.
    Thai time is an hour behind Malaysia's.

4. Places & Things of Interest  
    Enroute were several places of interest, some of which we visited and others we did not for lack of time (Note: click on GPS coordinates for a directional map to respective places):
    Day 4:
    a. Kim Yong Market (ตลาดกิมหยง) (GPS: 7.00845, 100.47012).
    b. Stainless Steel Temple (Phra Mahathat Chedi Traiphop Traimongkon) (GPS: 7.00495, 100.51630).
    c. 7-Eleven Pasawang Rd (เซเว่นสาขาถนนภาสว่าง) (GPS: 7.01970, 100.49125) largest 7-Eleven in Hat Yai.
    d. Wat Chue Chang (วัดฉื่อฉาง) (GPS: 7.00844, 100.47212).
    e. Lee Garden Night Market (ลีการ์เดนส์ ไนท์มาร์เก็ต) (GPS: 7.00604, 100.47133).
    f. Por Usanon Shopping Alley (GPS: 7.00486, 100.47138).
    g. Mohya Pharmacy (ร้านหมอยา) (GPS: 7.00757, 100.47019), purchased Siangpure Thai medicated oil, Thai JAM Rice Milk Soap, Rhinobun Pain Relief Plaster, Mosquito Repellant Spray, etc.
    h. Wat Santi Worakhun (วัดสันติวรคุณ) (GPS: 6.61298, 100.42022) at Sadao.
    Day 5:
    a. Kim Yong Market (ตลาดกิมหยง) (GPS: 7.00845, 100.47012).
    b. Qin Nut Shop (GPS: 7.00759, 100.47049).
    c. 7-Eleven Hatyai City (GPS: 7.00406, 100.46984), purchased Thai Milk Tea (Cha Yen), burgers and sandwiches, etc.
    d. Lotus’s Hat Yai 1 Hypermarket (GPS: 7.00711, 100.49203) purchased Cocoa Dutch Chocolate powder, KNORR Pork Stock Cube (no msg), etc.

5. Food
    Day 4:
    a. Breakfast
        - Take away sandwiches and burgers from 7-Eleven Pasawang Rd (เซเว่นสาขาถนนภาสว่าง) (GPS: 7.01970, 100.49125).
    c. Dinner
        Thai Seafood Feast at Seaspace Hatyai (GPS: 6.99286, 100.47662) includes Thai Salmon-prawn Shashimi (yum pla salmon-goong sod), Crab Omellete, Baked Roe Crabs, Grilled Giant Freshwater Prawns, Thai Crab Fried Rice, and Stir Fried Melimjo (Malindjo) Leaves with Egg (Bai Leang pad Kai, ใบเหลียงผัดไข่).
    Day 5:
    a. Brunch

6. Accommodations
    Second of two nights at the Golden Crown Grand Hotel (GPS: 7.00728, 100.47039) in Hat Yai, Thailand, queen room at RM120 per night.

7. Communicating with Each Other
    When travelling in a group, it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest.
    Physical sim cards can be ordered online or purchased upon arrival at international airports, OR one can order Malaysian e-SIM online.
   Some of us bought DTAC Happy Tourist physical Thai phone SIM cards at the "Mini Travel 1982"  travel assistance office at Changlun. We got the 7-Days unlimited data physical SIM at RM25.
Others subscribed for the Touch-n-Go e-SIM directly through the Touch-n-Go e-Wallet App in their phone, getting a 7-Day 1-GB plan for RM9. A 15-Day 2-GB plan is available for RM15. This e-SIM has to be activated and set up just before entering Thailand, or if in Thailand then activate it where there is WiFi.

9. Communicating with Locals
    Although Bahasa Malaysia is the official language of Malaysia, most Malaysians speak fairly good English; even in smaller towns or villages, locals speak some rudimentary English. One can warm up to locals by conversing in some basic Bahasa Malaysia. Failing which, Google Translate, should one get stuck vocally.
    The official language of Thailand is Thai. At the tourist areas, many locals can speak basic English. One can warm up to locals by conversing in some basic Thai. Failing that, Google Translate should be used if one gets stuck vocally.

10. Weather
      Day 4:
      The average day and night temperatures in Hat Yai were 32°C and 25°C, partly cloudy.
      Day 5:
      The average day in Hat Yai were 32°C, partly cloudy.
     A useful weather forecast site for Hat Yai is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.

11. Navigation
     Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.
___________________________________________________________________________
PRELUDE
Yesterday, after a good breakfast of Penang food, we drove from George Town (Penang Island) to Hat Yai, Thailand. After checking into our hotel and a short rest, we headed out to Krua Pa-Yad for dinner and later went exploring the Lee Garden Night Market and the nearby Por Usanon Shopping Alley.
Today we have a full day in the city, and we'll try more Thai Food, visit a unique temple and later go for a very delicious seafood dinner!
___________________________________________________________________________
DAYS 4 & 5: AROUND HAT YAI & HOME
(Click here for the Penang-Hat Yai Days 4 & 5: Around Hat Yai & Home Route Map)

Most of the posts below are linked to my Facebook postings during the trip and are embedded here with some comments. (NOTE: Click on respective posts to link to the FB post to read more details. If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first.)
DAY 4: AROUND HAT YAI
Kicked off the day with Wonton noodles breakfast at Hong Thong Noodles.
It was a fairly good noodle; the roasted pork and wantans were nice, but the char siu was not up to par (as compared to KL Char Siu). The noodles were flat type, somewhat like Wantan Chor Mee, but not as wide; it's more like Singapore's Mee Pok. 

Next was a forty-five-minute drive along winding roads to a hillside of Khao Kho Hong mountain, at the outskirts of town.
As we arrived, we were greeted by a tall red tower with a green Chinese Dragon entwining it. Further in, animals of the Chinese Zodiac lined both sides of the driveway/carpark. I was looking out for a statue for the Chinese Zodiac Dog, specifically the Earth Dog. See, I was born in the Year of the Dog, and that's why I call my blog "Old Dog Rides Again!" 😉

Just before entering the temple proper were some shrines.
One is dedicated to Guanyin, the one here is the multi-armed Bodhisattva of Compassion called Avalokiteshvara.
The other one is a shrine to the other is to the Thai Dragon. Most Thai temples will have dragons as they are considered protectors of the temple.

The Stainless Steel Temple (officially called Phra Mahathat Chedi Traiphop Traimongkon) itself is of an interesting design. It's a round building with an uncovered corridor going around it. At regular intervals were round openings with their bottoms about six inches above the ground.
I went around looking for a door, but there were none! Those round openings WERE the entrances!

Each round opening leads into a small shrine area with various poses/postures of Buddha. One can look through these openings right through the internal to other openings on the opposite sides.

At the other side of each shrine is another similarly sized round opening that leads into the central main prayer hall.

Peep through the second opening into the main prayer hall.

A couple of staircases in the prayer hall lead up to the roof. They are stainless steel too and do be careful when climbing up as there are no hand rails.

At the top is an open area, and looking upwards, one will see circular stainless steel tubes running around in concentric circles. Each circle becomes smaller as it gets higher. It looks complicated ..... but .....

..... when viewed from the outside, they form a stainless steel conical stupa/pagoda.

Next destination: the 7-Eleven Pasawang Rd (เซเว่นสาขาถนนภาสว่าง), largest 7-Eleven in Hat Yai! They have such a wide range of products sold here, how I wish our Malaysian ones have half their products!

We're here to scout out their latest burgers and sandwiches.

After a short rest at the hotel, the missus and I went for a short walk around the nearby streets of Hat Yai.

The nearby Kim Yong Market, with the shops closed and vacant stalls tucked to the sides, was deserted, with hardly any people or traffic. Here, the missus is walking in the centre of the road with nary a worry!

We arrived at our destination, the Wat Chue Chang temple. The main entrance is a simple, small arch (Paifang) of Chinese design.

Like many Chinese temples, the temple is set slightly elevated above the road level, and at the entrance platform, a censer incense burner faces the road.
There's a ritual to follow when lighting incense and praying at this urn:
1. Enter the temple through the dragon gate (the right entrance).
2. Pray to the Sky God (Jade Emperor): Find the censer (incense urn) located outside the main hall. Face the censer, looking outside the temple, and insert your incense sticks, saying your prayer.
3. Turn to the main deity: inside the main hall, such as the Jade Emperor's image or the temple's main god (e.g., Guanyin). Face the deity: and make your prayer.
4. After prayers inside the temple, exit the temple through the tiger gate (the left entrance).

Visiting the Wat Chue Chang temple.

The main entrance platform leading to the main prayer hall was very red, lit by the red lanterns! The main hall has several prayer altars; click here for more details on the arrangement of these altars.
To each side, archways lead to secondary prayer halls; the left one leads to the prayer hall of ancestral veneration. Here, short of going to a faraway cemetery, people leave their ancestral tablets at an altar to offer prayers.

To the right is the prayer hall for secondary gods/deities. The one here is dedicated to Guanyin.
The above combo shows the main altar at the main prayer hall for dedication to Buddha, and the right hall with an altar for prayers to Guanyin.

It's Dinner Time!
Together with our DIL & son, we Grab over to Seaspace Hatyai for a sumptuous dinner of a Thai Seafood Feast. Kicked off with this sashimi with a Thai twist, i.e. Thai Salmon-prawn Shashimi (yum pla salmon-goong sod)


Oooooo...... Baked Roe Crabs ...... Yummy!


Double Yummy! And gleaned to the bones..... oops, I mean shell!

BURP..... Burp..... burp...
อร่อยมาก!
(That's Aroi Mak Mak! - Very delicious in Thai)
___________________________________________________________________________

DAY 5: HAT YAI TO KUALA LUMPUR

Most of the posts below are linked to my Facebook postings during the trip and are embedded here with some comments. (NOTE: Click on respective posts to link to the FB post to read more details. If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first.)
It's a last morning in Hat Yai before heading home.
It's going to be a shopping day, where we'll get mostly yummy food to take home for ourselves and our friends back home.
AND just in front of our hotel were these lady vendors selling rice dumplings and fruits. The dumplings were a hot seller, with many passers-by buying them. There was also something similar to Malaysian Ketupat, i.e. rice cakes wrapped in palm leaves instead of bamboo leaves. The ones here were triangular-shaped and had rice filled with red beans.

Around the corner was an interesting shop called Qin, which sells foodstuffs mainly nuts, eg cashew nuts, pistachio, etc.
Thailand is renowned for cashew nuts, and we got several packets. We also bought several packets of Oven Roasted Crispy Pork Strip (similar to this)

Time to cross over to the Kim Yong Market. Yesterday evening, when we walked through, the place was quiet as a mouse, but this morning it was full of activity, with a cacophony of stall operators doing very brisk business as the place was full of customers.

Here is an informative video of the Kim Yong Market.
The road was packed with push-cart stall lined in front of shops, and it was divided into several different sections, cooked food, fresh vegetables, meat, groceries, etc.

After a good time at the market, we checked out of the hotel and headed for brunch at Betong Wonton Noodles. Other than the usual Wonton noodles, we also had Tomyum noodles, Deep-Fried Wontons and Kep Moo (Crispy Pork Rind). Needless to say we took-away several packets of the Kep Moo.

Followed by food shopping at 7-Eleven Hatyai City, bought loads of Thai Milk Tea (Cha Yen), burgers and sandwiches, etc.

Fortunately, our car had a big boot as more than half the space was filled up with our last-minute shopping.

En route home, passing by the limestone hills of Ipoh. After a couple of fun days in Thailand, we're glad to be back in Malaysia.

It's Good to be Back Home!

(For more photos of Days 4 & 5, Click Here)
This is page 3 of a 3-page blog. Click Here To Go To The Title Page.
< D3: Penang-Hat Yai            |            Go to Other Days              |            D1&2: KL-Penang >
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You are at - Jotaro's Blog /AhPek Biker-Footsteps /Malaysia-Thailand/Penang-Hat Yai 2025/ D4 & 5: Around Hat Yai & Home     |     Go to D1&2/D3
If you like this, view my other blogs at Jotaro's Blog
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